Often, gardeners are wondering how and how to feed tomato seedlings in the early stages of growth. In some cases, after the seedlings appear on the surface of the substrate, there is a sudden inhibition of development. The seedlings begin to wither, the color changes, and the tomato bushes stop growing. Such symptoms are the reason for the lack of trace elements in the soil. If the sowing was carried out in a nutritious loose substrate, there is no need for frequent feeding of seedlings. However, a lot of attention needs to be paid to young plants until they adapt and fully develop.
Having found the first signs of leaf wilting, it is important to choose the right fertilizer for feeding tomato seedlings.
For traditional vegetable crops, the time it takes to grow in seed containers at home is usually a couple of months. Then the seedlings are transferred to open ground. During this period, tomatoes are fed 3-4 times. For the first time, fertilizer is applied during the formation of the 2nd and 3rd leaves, then two weeks after the pick. The procedure is repeated after another two weeks. 10 days before transplanting to greenhouses or to a plot, seedlings are fed for the fourth time.
How and what to feed tomato seedlings
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is responsible for building greenery. Lack of nitrogen results in yellowing of the leaves and reddening of the veins on the underside of the plate. There are several formulations of feed mixtures:
- a complex called "Biohumus", prepared according to the instructions;
- mullein solution, taken in a ratio of 1 liter of fertilizer per bucket of water;
- a mixture of 1.5 g of potassium salt, 0.5 g of urea and 4 g of superphosphate. All mineral granules are dissolved in 1 liter of water.
Over-saturation of the soil with a nitrogen microelement can lead to the opposite effect. Instead of ripening tasty and juicy fruits, foliage will grow. The quickly yellowed leaves are evidence of an excess of nitrogen in the tissues of tomato seedlings.
Important! Many plants need nitrogen-containing complexes, but they should be added very carefully.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is the main nutrient for any crop. The role of phosphorus is to regulate metabolic processes in tomatoes and accelerate the formation of root cuttings. Thanks to this microelement, the amount of nitrogen is equalized, the consequences for vegetables in excess are mitigated.
When the leaves of the plants begin to curl, and the color of the plate acquires a purple hue, the development of tomato seedlings subsides. It's time to add phosphorus fertilizers, for example, a superphosphate solution. Superphosphate does not have any effect in soils with an acidic environment, therefore, before feeding, the site is deoxidized with ash or lime. Phosphorus fertilizing is applied closer to the root zone. Scattering the granules on the surface will not work.
Superphosphate use methods:
- 15 g of the substance is dissolved in 5 l of water;
- 20 tbspthe granules are diluted in 3 liters of hot water, infused for a day, the resulting concentrate is diluted with water and a little humus is added to improve the absorption of fertilizer by tomato seedlings.
Superphosphates are not recommended to be mixed with ash, lime, urea and other types of fertilizers.
Potassium
Potassium is often added at the same time as phosphorus. Phosphorus-potassium formulations are available for sale. If the leaves are shriveled and the tips dry, then the plants need potash feeding. Otherwise, the bushes will bear fruit intermittently. Another function of potassium is the normalization of the vital activity of seedlings in the open field. It speeds up the formation of the ovary and gives the tomato flavor.
To use potash fertilizer, one of the following methods should be used.
- Dissolve 6 g of potassium sulfate in 5 liters of water.
- Dissolve 10 g of monophosphate in 10 liters of water.
- Dilute 50 ml of potassium humate in 10 liters of water. Thanks to the introduction of this composition, the structure of the soil is improved and the growth of seedlings is normalized.
- As foliar dressing, a solution of potassium nitrate is used (consumption of 15 g of substance per 10 l of water).
- Most of all potassium is contained in ash, so the ash is scattered under the root zone and the foliage is watered with an ash extract at the stage of growth of tomato bushes.
- The concentrated mullein is mixed with 200 g of ash and 20 g of double superphosphate.
Important! Phosphorus-potassium complexes are responsible for the normal development of tomatoes and create conditions for the formation of a plentiful ovary.
Iron
With a lack of iron, tomato seedlings are exposed to chlorosis, which occurs due to bright daylight. And, conversely, some gardeners are forced to arrange additional lighting around the bushes, but at the same time, an excess of light can provoke the opposite effect. The development of chlorosis leads to the defeat of young and old leaves. The color of the foliage becomes yellow or brown.
There are two ways to cope with the problem. It is recommended to spray diseased bushes with 0.25% iron sulfate solution or 0.1% iron chelate solution.
Calcium
The need for calcium is detected already at the stage of seed germination. If the plants lack this microelement, tomato seedlings stop growing, the root system freezes, and the buds and ovaries crumble. Signs of "calcium starvation" - the formation of light yellow spots and deformation of the leaf blades.
For the purpose of prevention, gardeners are advised to regularly perform a set of measures:
- spray the bushes with an ash hood;
- provide watering of seedlings with water infused with eggshells;
- spray it with a solution of calcium nitrate at the rate of 15 g per bucket of water.
It is necessary to feed the leaves or add fertilizers under the roots very carefully so as not to allow an overabundance of trace elements in the soil and not to burn the delicate leaves of plants.
